Duramax Buyers BEWARE !

[Junkman]

tell the dealer that if they don't want to replace the tranny, but only repair it that when it goes again, that you will be calling it a lemon and they might be doing a buy back. Stand firm and they will replace the tranny. A rebuild is only as good as the person that rebuilds it...

 

[Docsknotinn]

I understand the concerns about aluminum but its really nothing new. I think the problem is that some one in Mexico had a little too much tequilla the night before. The problem seems limited to a shipmen of transmissions that are getting put on the extended cab models out of Pontiac. The trans pump gasket is bad and apparently the bolts were not torqued properly. It sounds as though the entire tanny needs to be torn down to replace the gasket. Yes their is a water seperator but even so the common rail fuel system is operationg at like 30,000 PSI +. All of the top diesel guys agree that any common rail inector will fail much sooner without a 2 micron filter. From their you can get lost wadeing in the debates about pre or post OEM filters. I do believe it was over filled but after it pukes out enough its hard to tell /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I did not see any frothing like I have on others that were over filled but then the puddles underneath were not a good omen either. I am VERY suprised that no one has come up with a adapter to screw a 2 micron cat/Racor or baldwin filter onto the OEM fitting. What type of air beather are you running that lets you hear that Turbo spool up so well ? I have a K&N but I hear a lot about the AFE stage 2. I dont think I want to use another gauze filter though. I am looking at the Amsoil foam and the Uni Filters. Dave

 

[5030]

Dave:

Just as soon as I got the truck home in '97, I canned the stock filter and went to a K&N. Two years ago, I went back to the stock filter and this is why...

When I went to the K&N, I also coated the inside of the air inlet tract to the turbo with a thin layer of white lithium grease. The white grease is very tacky and will catch any particles that go by the filter and give you a good indication of the effectiveness of the filtering media. I ran the K&N for 2 years or about 12 thousand miles. I took it out and there was a fair amount of dirt in the media, so it looked like it was doing the job. Then I took apart the intake tract and found out it wasn't doing the job. My white lithium was covered with dirt. Needless to say, I went back to the stock filter, cleaned and re-coated the intake tract and checked this fall. I only put about 4K on the truck this year which is a lot less than 12K but the white grease was still just as I applied it, CLEAN.

That's my view on K&N filters. If someone made an oiled foam filter, I'd try that. For now, the stocker works just fine.

Probably the reason my turbo is so loud is that the stock Garrett went into the can a long time ago, besides, there is nothing between the turbo and the back bumper except some 4" diameter pipe. The waste gate went in the can too. Doggone trucks run better with fewer parts. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Problem with the Ford is the stock E-4OD can't take the increased ponies or the torque, so I dropped in a Jet E-4OD with an RV converter and I exchanged the Jet valve body for a prototype SVO valve body and deep sump pan. I also added a Hayden 12 pass trans cooler to control the temperature. The stock weenie cooler went in the can too. I think I told you before that we dynoed the truck and she makes 323 ponies at the rear wheels in direct at 60 per. She will also bury the clock. The rev limiter went in the can too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I just have to keep an eye on the boost gage and the pyrometer. She really sings at 25 pounds of boost. I do like to stand on it occasionally. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Dave: Remember, I'll be knocking on your door in 60 days, be ready!!

 

[Docsknotinn]

Do you have the manifold temp gauges from the pyrometer in the cockpit ? So what went in when you tossed out the stock garret ??? a variable vane turbo ? Try uni filter for a oiled foam. Thats what I am going to run. Amsoil also makes one but I hears its not as nice as the Uni and cost more $$$. My K&N is goin to get the deep 6 treatment soon. The GM stock filters are trash. They use a hot glue gun to hold the paper elements nice and tight. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Also if you hold up a K&N to the sun even after its freshly cleaned and oiled you will see small holes. This is not a good thing. 60 days huh. You better bring a extra roll of Ford TP /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif lol You realize we are a couple of Diesel fanatics dont you ! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I should be juiced with attitude by then. After the tranny troubles I will probably find someone a little more capable than the ninnys at this dealer to install a trans mod. The GM Torque Converter is a little lame and a few new springs and a shift kit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif PS When I see the Ford emblem in my rear view it says DROF ? lol Dave

 

[5030]

Dave:

I am a Gage freak!! I have exhaust temp, trans temp, boost, differential temp (r) and air pressure. The air pressure is for the air bags and to keep an eye on my ARB air locker. I like the ARB, you can lock it or run an open differential. I had the factory trac-loc but the clutch packs didn't last very long. Reider Racing in Taylor is the place to go for lockers and ring and pinion work. I think Reider is the only good thing in Taylor!!.

After the Garrett went in the can, actually I gave to a friend, I machined an Air Research fixed vane turbocharger to fit the Ford cast pedestal. The stock Ford setup feeds and drains lube oil through the turbo base into a gallery that's cast into the block. I had to machine a blanking piece and re-route the feed lines but it all went together pretty well. I do have a small oil leak in the blanking block. I used caterpillar (yellow) "O" rings instead of Buna rings. Someday, I'll change them. The AR has a blade wheel diameter that's about 0.500" larger than the Garrett and a larger bell. The hot side is more aggressive than the Garrett as well as the compressor side. It will pull better than 30 inches, but I like to keep it below that. That's a lot of boost and that equates to quite a bit of cylinder pressure. I don't want to blow a head gasket or stretch head blots. I left the stock HEUI injectors in. I just increased charge air quantity. Normal running produces about 600-700 degrees on the pyrometer. The pyrometer is mounted on the outlet pipe, so combustion chamber temps., probably are in the 800 degree range. On a hard pull or WOT, temps climb to about 1K (1100-1200). That's right about the limit as far as thermal stress on piston crowns go. Due to the fact that my internal temperatures are higher than a stock 7.3 IDI motor, I change the oil every 3K, filters too. The trans gets a 12K change and filters. I don't want to discuss oil but I use Delvac 1300 15-40 and Marathon Dexron 3. Stock Ford filters (engine) and Fram in the trans. My differentials are running 85-140 Shell Spirax EP-GL5 gear oil and I use Shell mineral oil in the transfer case. Annually, I do a spectro-analysis on the engine oil and the trans fluid. That way I have a baseline comparison of internal engine wear and transmission wear. It's always nice to know when something is going to puke, ahead of time!!

 

[Docsknotinn]

Youre not finatical... youre NUTS ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I got mine back today. Woo hoo big deal. 4 days to do a job rated at 5.30 hours. What would I expect after spending 45k...A little service ? This in my opinion is where Ford walks on GM. oh and by the way. when I got it back I realized they had put 120 miles on it. A nice test drive huh ? Their response, well gee we filled the tank. That was nice of you after you burned it ! oh and we put syntetic trans fluid in it.... 24 qts. REALLY whats the capacity ??? ahhhhh 22 quarts DA ! ooops GRRRR Dave

 

[5030]

Dave:

They either used it as a parts runner or took a few trips to Burger King.

Any stray butts in the ashtray??

You know how the old "road test" goes........

 

[Docsknotinn]

Yeah it was the service manager ride for the week. Gotta have something to drive while his was in for service dont cha know. i know I will avoid Al serra and Grand Blanc like the plague in the future. The good news is no leeks and with the transynd synthetic tranny fuid the old slush box is about 20 degrees cooler. Now for the Juice /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif dave

 

[Docsknotinn]

I put a thousand miles on the gal this weekend. Pulled a trailer full of split wood 300 miles down I-75. NO LEAKS /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif At least they did the job right. Dave

 

[5030]

Dave:

I wondered where you were all weekend. No posts. I was worried that you were broke down somewhere. At least the old "slush box" isn't leaking. Now you have to get rid of the "gravel" filter.